THE MAFIA BOSS'S BABY REACHED FOR THE WAITRESS — THEN HE SAW HER MOTHER'S PHOTO
THE MAFIA BOSS'S BABY REACHED FOR THE WAITRESS — THEN HE SAW HER MOTHER'S PHOTO
The baby screamed the moment I tried to walk away.
Not a normal cry.
A terrified scream.
The entire restaurant froze.
I turned around and saw nine-month-old Noah stretching both arms toward me from the lap of the most feared man in Chicago.
His father stared at me.
I stared back.
Then Noah whispered a single sound.
“Mom.”
My tray slipped from my hands.
It shattered against the marble floor.
Because my mother had been dead for twelve years.
And nobody in that restaurant knew what she used to call me.
My name is Sophie Carter.
I was twenty-six, working double shifts at Bellini's to pay my rent and help my younger brother through college.
That night, I had no idea the restaurant was expecting Victor Romano.
Everyone else did.
The manager had ordered three extra security guards.
The bartender had been told not to speak to him.
And every waiter had been warned:
“Do not stare at Mr. Romano.”
Then he walked in carrying Noah.
Victor was tall, impeccably dressed, and terrifyingly calm.
Two men followed him.
They checked every corner before Victor even sat down.
I approached their table with a water pitcher.
“Good evening.”
Victor looked up.
His eyes were cold.
“Bring coffee.”
“Of course.”
Then Noah saw me.
His face changed.
He reached toward me.
I smiled awkwardly.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
Noah started crying.
Victor immediately looked down at him.
“What is it?”
The baby wouldn't stop reaching for me.
I took one step closer.
Noah grabbed my finger.
He stopped crying instantly.
Victor's expression hardened.
“Have you met my son before?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
I laughed nervously.
“Unless you count today.”
Victor studied me.
Then Noah touched the small silver pendant around my neck.
His fingers wrapped around it.
Victor suddenly went still.
“Where did you get that?”
I instinctively covered it.
“My mother gave it to me.”
“What was her name?”
I hesitated.
“Evelyn Carter.”
The color disappeared from Victor's face.
One of his bodyguards leaned toward him.
“Boss?”
Victor ignored him.
“Your mother's full name.”
“Evelyn Marie Carter.”
Victor slowly stood.
I stepped backward.
“What is happening?”
He stared at my necklace.
Then at me.
“That pendant belonged to my sister.”
My heart stopped.
“My mother was an only child.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out his phone.
He opened an old photograph.
A young woman stood beside a much younger Victor.
Around her neck was the exact same silver pendant.
I couldn't breathe.
“That woman,” I whispered.
“Her name was Elena Romano.”
I stared at the photograph.
“She looks exactly like my mother.”
Victor's voice became quieter.
“Because she was your mother.”
The restaurant seemed to disappear.
“No.”
“You were told she was Evelyn Carter?”
“Yes.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“Then someone lied to you.”
Before I could ask another question, Noah began crying again.
I reached toward him.
Victor hesitated.
Then he handed me his son.
The baby immediately buried his face against my shoulder.
Everyone stared.
Victor looked almost frightened.
“That's impossible.”
“What?”
“My son hasn't allowed a stranger to hold him since his mother died.”
I looked down at Noah.
His tiny hand was still gripping my necklace.
Then I noticed something.
A tiny scar beneath his left ear.
My mother had the same scar.
I remembered her telling me once that she had received it as a child.
I looked at Victor.
“Why does he have that?”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“Because his mother did too.”
Silence.
Then one of his guards rushed into the restaurant.
“Boss.”
Victor turned.
“What?”
“We found the old hospital records.”
Victor took the envelope.
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at me.
His voice barely came out.
“Your mother didn't die twelve years ago.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“What did you say?”
Victor handed me the document.
The death certificate was a fake.
My mother had disappeared.
She had been placed into witness protection after someone tried to kill her.
And according to the file, the person who ordered the hit was still alive.
Victor looked toward the restaurant doors.
“There's more.”
“What?”
He lowered his voice.
“The man who tried to kill your mother…”
He glanced at Noah.
“…is the reason my son's mother was murdered.”
My blood ran cold.
Victor suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Listen carefully.”
His eyes locked onto mine.
“Your mother didn't disappear to save herself.”
He looked at the pendant around my neck.
“She disappeared to protect you.”
A gunshot exploded outside.
The windows shook.
Victor pulled me and Noah behind the table.
His men drew their weapons.
I screamed.
Victor looked at me with something I had never expected to see in his eyes.
Fear.
“Because whoever is shooting at us…”
He glanced toward the shattered window.
“…just found you.”
Advertisement